Abstract

Session organizer (with J Moore): “Enterprising archaeologists: thinking outside of the trench” Timothy Darvill (Archaeology and Historic Environment Group, School of Conservation Sciences, Bournemouth University) The last 20 years or so has seen a scalar increase in the level of archaeological activity in the UK and in many other parts of the world too, especially Europe and the US. In part this is linked to changes within archaeology itself, but it is suggested that other major contributing factors are the greater integration of archaeological interests with the environmental lobby and also the close connections forged with the tourism, leisure and entertainment industries. In all these areas there is evidence of enterprise and entrepreneurial flare. But how do we reconcile some of these things with the traditional aims of archaeology? How do they square with our theoretical perspectives? And where do we go next? Here it is argued that we should focus on what we make: knowledge. Tensions between different kinds of knowledge, and the different processes that lead to its creation, may provide the impetus for developing new fields of endeavour for the 21st century.